A 2-0 win over Auchinleck Talbot did little to quell the growing dissent among the Celtic support as goals from Johnny Kenny and Sebastian Tounekti saw them progress in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup.
Kenny finished from close range at the near post following Luke McCowan’s near-post cross in the 34th minute at Rugby Park.
A much-changed but largely-experienced Celtic team predictably dominated possession but struggled to finish off the sixth-tier side until substitute Tounekti curled into the top corner from 18 yards with five minutes left.
Each goal was met with anti-board chants, which were supplemented by basic pleas for some transfer activity.
The Celtic fans chanted “sign a player” and “if you want the Celts to lift the Scottish Cup, sign a player”, as they continue to wait for the club’s first January arrival.
Summer signing Michel-Ange Balikwisha’s performance in the fourth-round tie would have strengthened opinion that improvements were needed in the club’s recruitment strategy.
The game had been moved from the West of Scotland Premier Division side’s Beechwood Park to nearby Kilmarnock on police instructions, a decision that Celtic manager Martin O’Neill accepted would help his team.
O’Neill made 10 changes, with Callum McGregor the sole survivor from the midweek win over Falkirk.
Stephen Welsh made his first Hoops appearance since December 2024, after being recalled from a loan spell at Motherwell earlier in the week.
His selection means the central defender will either stay at Celtic or return to Fir Park, rather than being sold elsewhere before the transfer window closes.
The game immediately settled into a pattern of Celtic trying to break through 10 outfield players and it was midway through the first half before the favourites created a clear-cut chance.
They had two in quick succession as Paulo Bernardo headed over and Balikwisha blazed over from an excellent opportunity.
Talbot put on some pressure from two set-pieces shortly before Kenny netted the opener.
The breakthrough did not open the floodgates. McCowan had a shot saved and Kenny and Colby Donovan were off target with headers but Talbot were protecting their goalkeeper with reasonable success.
They got a shot on target themselves early in the second half but a long-range effort from Luke Gillies was little threat to Viljami Sinisalo.
The Ayrshire side’s best move saw them break into the box with several men in support but Kyle Mcavoy sliced a cross behind for a goal kick.
Celtic began to stretch Talbot as the game progressed. Kenny had a goal disallowed for offside, substitute Benjamin Nygren forced a save and there were other near misses before Tounekti eased the nerves among the travelling fans.
